Georgia"s team was wearing black bands and...

Kumaritashvili died after a crash at Whistler Sliding Center during a practice session on Friday.

The audience and honorary guests, including International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, stood up to welcome the Georgian team.

Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled during a training run on the track and flipped over the side, crashing into a steel pole. He was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save his life.

The Olympic luge track in Whistler is considered to be one of the world"s fastest and has already raised safety concerns among sports officials. Several other lugers crashed at the site on Friday during training, which has seen speeds in excess of 90 mph.

International Luge Federation (FIL) President Josef Fendt said earlier the luger"s death is "the gravest thing in sport," and Rogge called it a tragedy overshadowing the 2010 Winter Olympics.

MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti)